Leighton Vander Esch
_(cropped).jpg) Leighton Vander Esch 2018, Photo: Keith Allison |
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| Dallas Cowboys - No. 55 | |
| Middle linebacker | |
| Date of birth: February 8, 1996 | |
| Place of birth: Riggins , Idaho | |
| Height: 1.93 m | Weight: 116 kg |
| NFL debut | |
|---|---|
| 2018 for the Dallas Cowboys | |
| Career | |
| College : Boise State University | |
| NFL Draft : 2018 / Round: 1 / Pick: 19th | |
Teams:
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| Current status: Active | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Selected NFL stats as of week 17 of the 2019 season |
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| Tackles | 212 |
| rejected passports | 10 |
| Interceptions | 2 |
| Statistics at NFL.com | |
| Statistics at pro-football-reference.com | |
Leighton Vander Esch (* 8. February 1996 in Riggins , Idaho ) is an American American football player of Dutch descent on the position of the linebackers . He was selected 19th place by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2018 NFL Draft and previously played college football at Boise State University (BSU).
Early years
Vander Esch grew up in the 410-soul village Riggins, where he on the small Salmon River High School (only eleven graduates in his senior year) a sports powerhouse in basketball with two States championships in a row and in 8-man football , a football variant with fewer players and a shorter playing field (a 2012 United States championship). In football he played both quarterback and middle linebacker. In his division, he was named Player of the Year in both football and basketball .
college
Nevertheless, college offers initially failed to materialize; Vander Esch considered earning money for a degree as a rafting guide in Riggins at home . In the end he got a scholarship from Boise State University. In his first year as a red shirt he was used as a backup linebacker in all 12 games; After injuries in the less than successful sophomore year, however, he made his final breakthrough in the third year of college ( junior year). 113 successful tackles in the regular season (the third best value in the league, highest value in his own team), plus three sacks and two interceptions were rewarded in 2017 with his election as " Mountain West Defensive Player Of The Year". After his strong performance in the championship final against Fresno on December 2, 2017 (career high of 16 tackles), he was also named MW Championship Game Defensive MVP .
NFL
After the hugely successful season, Vander Esch decided to leave college early to take part in the 2018 draft. In the Combine (preliminary tests for the draft) he was the third best NFL player. This and his outstanding athletic physical constitution meant that he was highly rated by experts there; the Dallas Cowboys eventually picked him 19th in the first round. The high expectations that the cowboys associated with his commitment were also expressed in the number 55 shirt, which has been associated with legendary linebackers such as Lee Roy Jordan , Rolando McClain and Jack Del Rio in cowboys history . With a total of 131 tackles, two interceptions and seven passes fended he could expectations in his rookie fulfill -Season and contributed to the fact that the Dallas Cowboys thanks to a strong season finale (6: 1 balance from the last 7 games), the Play- offs .
In November 2018 he was the first Cowboys player in 13 years and the third player ever to receive the prestigious award for "NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Month".
Trivia
After Leighton Vander Esch successful actions used to cheer with a wolf howling, he was nicknamed "The Wolf Hunter" ( The wolf hunter ).
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Zeke Barrera: Leighton Vander Esch fits the profile of a future Cowboys legend on cowboyswire.usatoday.com from July 20, 2018, accessed on December 29, 2018 [1]
- ↑ Dave Southorn: Vander Esch's 'incredible journey' continues with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. idahostatesman.com, April 26, 2018, accessed December 29, 2018 .
- ↑ Mountain West announces 2017 Football all-conference teams and individual awards. themw.com, November 29, 2017, accessed December 29, 2018 .
- ↑ 2017 Football Roster. broncosports.com, accessed December 29, 2018 .
- ↑ ESPN player card
- ↑ KD Drummond: The history of No. 55, Leighton Vander Esch's new Cowboys jersey. cowboyswire.usatoday.com, April 27, 2018, accessed December 29, 2018 .
- ↑ Nick Eatman: Vander Esch Wins First Rookie Award in 13 Years. themw.com, November 29, 2017, accessed December 29, 2018 .
- ↑ Jori Epstein: Meet the Wolf Hunter: Leighton Vander Esch's rise gives Cowboys reason to howl. eu.usatoday.com, December 7, 2018, accessed December 29, 2018 .
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Vander Esch, Leighton |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Vander Esch, Leighton (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American football player |
| DATE OF BIRTH | February 8, 1996 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Riggins , Idaho |